Home Remedies to Train Cats to Use a Litter Box

If you plan to keep your pet cat indoors, you'll need to train it to use a litter box. Some cats use litter boxes fairly naturally and don't need much training at all. Others might require a little more coaxing. Either way, with some attention, your cat should be using the litter box in no time.

  1. Contain

    • It's important to contain your cat to the room with the litter box when you're trying to train it. That way, the cat can't go to a secluded corner and use the bathroom. Put the litter box in the room in which you spend the most time so you can watch the cat. Cats dig before urinating or defecating, so if you see him pawing at the floor, place him in the litter box.

    Smell

    • Cats use their sense of smell to determine where to go to the bathroom. If your cat keeps having accidents in the house, transfer some of her urine or feces to the litter box. That way, when she is trying to find a good place to use the bathroom, she will be attracted to the litter box. Thoroughly clean areas where he has had accidents so those smells don't remain.

    Routine

    • Cats often need to use the bathroom soon after napping or eating. When your cat is done with either of these, place him in the litter box. If he doesn't urinate or defecate after a few moments, let him get out, but watch him closely. Place him back in the litter box if he shows signs of needing to go, such as scratching or entering a secluded area.

    Clean

    • Although the smell of urine or feces will attract cats to a litter box, a box that is overly dirty will repel them. Cats are very clean animals, so they will often avoid dirty litter boxes. Be sure to scoop the waste out of the litter box every day. Change the litter and thoroughly wash the litter box every week. If you have more than one cat, changing the litter and washing the box may need to be done more frequently. Have one litter box for each cat, plus one.